| One of the stars of this year's Detroit Motor
Show looks like it could be going into limited series production. When
the Chrysler ME Four-Twelve was unveiled at Cobo Hall, Wolfgang Bernhard,
who was then COO of the Chrysler Group, hinted that a version would be
road-ready by the summer. True to his word, although he has since left
the company, the company confirmed that the quad-turbo 6.0 litre V12 engined
coupe could be going into limited production with a final decision being
taken later this year. However, it is unlikely to be built at a Chrysler
plant.
The Chrysler ME Four-Twelve could herald the arrival of yet another supercar |
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The heart of the ME Four-Twelve is its all-aluminium, quad-turbo, 6.0 litre V12 engine. With electronic sequential multipoint fuel injection and a 9.0:1 compression ratio, the ME Four-Twelve’s AMG-developed engine delivers 850 bhp @ 5750 rpm, with 850 lb ft (1150 Nm) of torque between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm on premium unleaded fuel. The specific power output translates to 142 bhp/litre and a curb weight of just 1,310 kg. The estimated top speed is 400 km/h (248 mph).
The 7-speed Ricardo double clutch transmission was developed specifically for this vehicle and features the latest double wet-clutch technology and electronic control strategy. The exclusive ME Four-Twelve transmission delivers uninterrupted torque to the rear wheels with 200 millisecond shift times.
Advanced Composite Structure
The ME Four-Twelve’s advanced carbon fibre bodywork was designed to mate to a carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque tub. Aluminium crush structures and chrome-moly subframes complete the ME Four-Twelve’s rigid support structure. Taking advantage of its impressive racecar-like structural rigidity, the ME Four-Twelve’s suspension, steering and brakes are engineered for supercar performance. Overall, the vehicle’s structure – consisting of multiple materials - achieves an ultra lightweight design with outstanding vehicle rigidity and complies with all US federal regulations related to impact testing.
The suspension is comprised of double wishbones, aluminium control arms, horizontally-opposed coil-over dampers with electronically controlled compression and rebound tuning, stainless-steel push rods and a blade configured anti-roll bar. The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering has an overall ratio of 16:1 with 2.4 turns lock-to-lock and a turning circle of 36.0 feet.
The ME Four-Twelve braking system features massive 15.0 inch (381 mm) ventilated carbon ceramic composite disc brake rotors with six-piston aluminium mono block callipers for superior braking performance during all driving conditions. The composite discs are 65 per cent lower in weight than comparable cast iron rotors resulting in significantly reduced unsprung mass and improved shock damping response.
The computer controlled active rear spoiler articulates rearward 100 mm to increase down-force to a total of 421 kg (925 lb) at 300 km/h (186 mph), while achieving a competitive coefficient of drag (Cd) of 0.358. This results in unwavering stability at the ultra-high speeds of which ME Four-Twelve is capable. All body openings have been optimised to achieve maximum thermal performance. In addition, large vented front and rear wheel houses reduce lift as well as active and passive aerodynamic devices that have been implemented to provide stable vehicle performance at all speeds. Those devices include:
- A front fascia splitter for increased frontal downforce
- A fully developed underbody with integral rear diffuser to reduce lift and provide additional rear down-force
- Formations in the belly pan forward of each wheel to aid in reducing lift
- The decklid rear “ski-slope” formation improves rear down-force
- Large rear grille integrated into the fascia helps ventilate air through the engine compartment
- Cubic section at the leading edge of the front fascia helps air attach to the underbody and reduces lift
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